Natsukawa Sosuke walked in front, a branch in his hand, pushing aside the shrubs and vines blocking their path. Sakura Airi, carrying a small bag, followed closely behind him.
To Natsukawa's surprise, after nearly half an hour of walking up the mountain, the girl behind him, although breathing a little heavily, did not fall behind or struggle for breath as he had expected.
'It seems the morning runs over the past few months have been very effective.'
'The weak, reclusive girl who used to pant after just a few steps can now keep up with a normal person's pace.'
The air in the forest was fresh and moist, and sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting dappled shadows. Cicadas chirped continuously, but it wasn't noisy; instead, it accentuated a tranquility far removed from the hustle and bustle of the world.
As the two delved deeper, the noisy sounds from the camp were completely cut off.
Walking among the tall trees, the entire world seemed to be left with just the two of them. In this private space, with only the two of them, an inexplicable restlessness began to quietly sprout in Airi's heart.
Natsukawa Sosuke slowed his pace, and when Sakura caught up, he naturally reached out and took her hand.
"Are you tired?"
"No... not tired!" Sakura Airi shook her head, her cheeks flushed with a healthy color from the exercise, and her blue eyes sparkled with excitement. "As long as... as long as I'm with Sōsuke-kun, I'm not tired no matter where we go."
Her small hand tightened slightly in Natsukawa's palm. The warmth from their intertwined hands made her feel incredibly secure and happy.
On this unknown deserted island, this moment of tranquility seemed to belong only to them.
"The path ahead is a bit difficult. Hold on tight."
Natsukawa Sosuke didn't let go; instead, he held her hand even tighter. He led her through a bushy thicket of weeds and across a moss-covered stream. Whenever they encountered a difficult spot, he would step over first, then turn around and steadily support Sakura until her feet were safely on the ground.
That feeling of being cared for and cherished kept a sweet smile on Sakura Airi's lips. She looked at the tall and upright figure walking ahead of her, her heart filled with contentment.
(If it's for Sōsuke-kun... even living on this deserted island for a lifetime doesn't seem like a bad thing. But what exactly is Sōsuke-kun's relationship with Horikita-san? He also seemed very close to Kushida-san before...)
As soon as this thought emerged, her face turned even redder. She quickly shook her head, trying to banish this rather bold idea from her mind, but then a worried expression appeared on her face, like a lost puppy afraid of being abandoned.
After another ten minutes of walking, the scenery suddenly opened up.
Natsukawa Sosuke stopped, pointing to a solitary building not far ahead.
"We're here."
It was a simple wooden cabin built on the edge of a cliff. It looked quite old, its wooden planks weathered to a grayish-white by wind and sun, but nestled among the lush greenery, it exuded a sense of timeless isolation.
"This... this is?"
Sakura Airi looked at the small cabin with some surprise, her steps hesitating. Suddenly seeing a man-made structure on a completely unfamiliar deserted island instinctively made her feel a hint of unease.
"Don't worry." Natsukawa Sosuke noticed her apprehension and squeezed her palm. "Since the school allows us to explore this island freely, it means there are basically no forbidden zones here. Besides, these abandoned cabins are often where the scenery is best."
He pulled her along and walked to the front door of the wooden cabin.
The door was unlocked; a gentle push opened it with a creak.
The interior of the cabin was extremely simple. A dusty wooden table, two chairs, and a wooden plank bed against the wall. The air was filled with a faint smell of mold and the salty scent of the sea breeze.
"There's nothing here..." Sakura Airi mumbled softly, seemingly a little disappointed.
"Don't rush."
Natsukawa Sosuke released her hand and walked directly to the other end of the room, where there was a closed back door.
He reached out, grasped the doorknob, twisted it forcefully, and then pushed it open with a sudden motion.
"Whoosh—"
The sound of huge waves instantly rushed into their ears.
The previously dim room was now filled with dazzling sunlight.
Sakura Airi instinctively squinted her eyes. When she adjusted to the light and saw the scene before her, she was completely stunned.
Outside the door was a small wooden terrace.
And in front of the terrace was an endless, breathtakingly blue ocean.
Because it was located on top of a cliff, the view was extremely expansive. The azure sea and the clear sky converged into a straight line at the distant horizon, and several white seagulls soared freely over the sea. Sunlight scattered across the shimmering surface of the sea, like a handful of scattered gold, radiating dazzling and mesmerizing light.
The sea breeze, mixed with moisture, blew across her face, tousling Sakura's hair and stirring her heart.
"So... so beautiful..."
She murmured, her eyes reflecting the blue of the entire ocean, as if even her soul had been cleansed by this magnificent scenery.
"I noticed this spot when I was on the cruise around the island."
Natsukawa Sosuke walked behind her, resting his hands on the railing, encircling her in his embrace, and gazing into the distance with her.
"Part of the reason I chose that rock cave as our base was also because it's not too far from here."
He whispered in her ear, "This will be our secret base during our time on the island. Only the two of us will know about it."
"This is my gift to you. What do you think, Airi, do you like it?"
Sakura Airi's body trembled slightly. She turned her upper body and looked up at Natsukawa. At this moment, the man's face, set against the backdrop of the blue sky and sea, appeared so gentle and radiant.
A huge wave of joy and emotion surged into her heart, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
"Yes! I love it! I love it the most!"
She could no longer control her emotions and suddenly threw herself into Natsukawa's arms, wrapping her hands tightly around his waist, burying her face in his chest, her voice filled with a choked joy.
"As long as it's from Sōsuke-kun... no matter what it is, I like it!"
'What an easily contented little one.'
Natsukawa Sosuke felt the girl's unreserved dependence in his arms and didn't rush to break the tranquility. The two of them, like small animals finding shelter before a storm, sat side by side on the edge of the terrace, their shoulders leaning closely together.
Time seemed to freeze in this corner forgotten by the world.
About an hour passed until an untimely 'rumble' from her stomach broke the romantic atmosphere.
Sakura Airi hastily covered her stomach, her face as red as a ripe tomato, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.
"Looks like you're hungry." Natsukawa Sosuke smiled, stood up, "Perfect, there are plenty of fish in the waters below. I just saw some discarded fishing lines in this cabin; they should be usable with a little modification."
Relying on the wilderness survival knowledge he had exchanged from the system, Natsukawa Sosuke quickly made a simple fishing rig using the fishing lines found in the cabin and branches picked up outside. He had good luck in the reef area below the cliff, and before long, he caught several sizable sea fish.
In front of the simple cabin, Natsukawa skillfully built a fire. Without seasoning, he just rinsed the fish lightly with seawater to add saltiness.
Before long, the aroma of grilled fish filled the air.